Whisky: Dailuaine 13 Year (2007), Hidden Spirits Cask DU721

Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside

ABV: 52.1%

Cask: Jamaican Rum Cask Finish

Age: 13 Years (Distilled 2007, Bottled 2021)

Nose: Green apples and buttercream frosting; hints of candied ginger and almond with citrusy lemon marmalade; a touch of coconut, bruised pineapple, and green wood at times.

Palate: Medium-bodied, very oily, orchard fruit and citrus opened with fresh lumber, bruised pineapple, and red earth; peppery spirit popped on the mid-palate and tingled through to the end, more wood at the backend.

Finish: Medium-length with peppery spirit, bruised tropical fruits, and earth.

Score: 6 (77)

Mental Image: Baking While Building the Patisserie

Narrative & Notes: Green apples dominated the sweet and slightly creamy aroma, with citrus and bruised tropical fruits hiding behind candied ginger.  The apples carried over to the oily and medium-bodied palate, which featured green grape skins, lumber, and some peppery spirit.  The finish was much the same, with pepper and bruised tropical fruits over mellow earth.

Balanced and well-structured, I found the whisky a bit too youthful and sweet for my taste. I am also not a big fan of green apple notes and those were just everywhere on this whisky— though I would not have complained had they pushed out more of the oak and peppery spirit.  The whole thing felt a bit raw and unrefined, not nearly as juicy or rich as I expected.

Overall, I might accept a pour of this, but I would not seek it out. Otherwise, I thought it made for a great highball.

Image Credit: Whisky Auctioneer